Camera with film winder having single dual-function part for winding exposed filmstrip into cassette and for closing cassette

ABSTRACT

A camera comprising a chamber for a film cassette having a film spool inside the cassette that is windingly rotated to progressively wind an exposed filmstrip into the cassette and a light lock that is to be closed after the exposed filmstrip is completely wound into the cassette, a rotatable film winder for windingly rotating the film spool, and a closing mechanism operated to close the light lock, is characterized in that the film winder has a single, distinct, dual-function part configured on the film winder to engage the film spool in order to windingly rotate the film spool and to engage the closing mechanism to operate the closing mechanism.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Reference is made to commonly assigned copending applications Ser. No.09/243,864, entitled CAMERA WITH FILM SENSOR TO DETERMINE WHEN TO CLOSECASSETTE NOT URGED AGAINST FILMSTRIP DURING EXPOSURE and filed Feb. 3,1999 in the names of Jude A. SanGregory, Anthony DiRisio & Thomas E.Dussinger, Ser. No. 09/243,863, entitled CAMERA WITH CLOSING MECHANISMTO CLOSE CASSETTE and filed Feb. 3, 1999 in the names of Jude A.SanGregory & Douglas A. Pearson, Ser. No. 09/243,661, entitled CAMERAWITH CLOSING LEVER PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED ON CASSETTE TO CLOSE CASSETTE andfiled Feb. 3, 1999 in the name of Jude A. SanGregory, Ser. No.09/243,865, entitled ONE-TIME-USE CAMERA WITH FILM SENSOR TO DETERMINEWHEN TO CLOSE CASSETTE DISABLED WHEN CASSETTE CLOSED and filed Feb. 3,1999 in the names of Jude A. SanGregory & Thomas E. Dussinger, and Ser.No. 09/246,316, entitled ONE-TIME-USE CAMERA WITH CLOSING MECHANISM TOCLOSE CASSETTE DISABLED WHEN UNEXPOSED FILM PREWOUND FROM CASSETTEDURING CAMERA MANUFACTURE and filed Feb. 8, 1999 in the name of ThomasE. Dussinger.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to the field of photography, and inparticular to cameras such as so-called one-time-use or disposablecameras. More specifically, the invention relates to a camera with afilm winder that operates a closing mechanism to close the light lock ofa film cassette after the film winder has completely wound an exposedfilmstrip into the cassette.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known for a camera to be used with a film cassette having a lightlock which is to be pivoted closed after a filmstrip exposed in thecamera is completely wound into the cassette. The light lock must bepivoted closed to prevent ambient light from entering the film cassettewhen the cassette is removed from the camera. The camera includes amanual film winding thumbwheel which is windingly rotated with a firstpart of the thumbwheel coaxially engaging a film spool inside the filmcassette, to progressively wind the exposed filmstrip onto the spoolfollowing each exposure. A second part of the thumbwheel, separate anddistinct from the first part, operates a closing mechanism to pivot thelight lock closed when the thumbwheel is continued to be windinglyrotated after the exposed filmstrip is completely wound into thecassette following the last exposure. A version of the camera isdisclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,608,480 issued Mar. 4,1997.

THE CROSS-REFERENCED APPLICATIONS

The cross-referenced applications are incorporated in this application.

Cross-referenced application Ser. No. 09/243,864, entitled CAMERA WITHFILM SENSOR TO DETERMINE WHEN TO CLOSE CASSETTE NOT URGED AGAINSTFILMSTRIP DURING EXPOSURE discloses a camera comprising a chamber for afilm cassette having a film spool inside the cassette that is windinglyrotated to progressively wind an exposed filmstrip into the cassette anda light lock that is to be closed after the exposed filmstrip iscompletely wound into the cassette, a rotatable film winder forwindingly rotating the film spool, a film sensor urged against theexposed filmstrip before the exposed filmstrip is completely wound intothe cassette to sense the presence of the exposed filmstrip, and aclosing mechanism movable to close the light lock when the exposedfilmstrip is completely wound into the cassette, characterized in thatthe film winder has an urging component that urges the film sensoragainst the exposed filmstrip only when the film winder is rotated,whereby the film sensor is not urged against the exposed filmstrip whenthe film winder is stationary. Thus, the film sensor will not distortthe filmstrip during exposure.

Cross-referenced application Ser. No. 09/243,863, entitled CAMERA WITHCLOSING MECHANISM TO CLOSE CASSETTE discloses a camera comprising achamber for a film cassette having a film passageway through which anexposed filmstrip is progressively moved into the cassette and a lightlock that is to be closed within the film passageway after the exposedfilmstrip is completely moved into the cassette, and a movable closingmechanism for closing the light lock, characterized in that the closingmechanism has a closing portion configured on the closing mechanism tobe moved from outside the film passageway to inside the film passagewaywhen the exposed filmstrip is moved completely into the cassette, inorder to close the light lock.

Cross-referenced application Ser. No. 09/243,661, entitled CAMERA WITHCLOSING LEVER PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED ON CASSETTE TO CLOSE CASSETTEdiscloses a camera comprising a chamber for a film cassette having alight lock that is to be closed when an exposed filmstrip is completelymoved into the cassette, and a movable closing mechanism for closing thelight lock, characterized in that the closing mechanism has a closinglever with a pivot support configured on the closing lever to engage thefilm cassette separate from the light lock in order to support theclosing lever on the film cassette for pivotal movement to close thelight lock.

Cross-referenced application Ser. No. 09/243,865, entitled ONE-TIME-USECAMERA WITH FILM SENSOR TO DETERMINE WHEN TO CLOSE CASSETTE DISABLEDWHEN CASSETTE CLOSED discloses a one-time-use camera comprising a filmcassette which has a filmstrip that is to be progressively wound intothe cassette following each exposure and a light lock that is to beclosed after the filmstrip is completely wound into the cassette, and asingle-piece closing unit for closing the light lock which has a filmsensing portion in contact with the filmstrip as the filmstrip isprogressively wound into the cassette to determine when the filmstrip iscompletely wound into the cassette and a closing portion movable toclose the light lock when the film sensing portion determines that thefilmstrip is completely would into the cassette, characterized in that afixed stop is arranged opposite the cassette to form a capture space forthe film sensing portion between the fixed stop and the cassette, thefilm sensing portion is connected to the closing portion at anintermediate weakened portion that is constructed to allow the filmsensing portion to be folded towards the closing portion withoutbecoming separated from the closing portion, and the single-piececlosing unit is supported for pivotal movement to pivot the closingportion to close the light lock and to pivot the film sensing portionsequentially against the fixed stop and folded into the capture space,whereby the film sensing portion will be trapped in the capture spacewithout being separated from the closing portion to secure the closingportion in place holding the light lock closed.

Cross-referenced application Ser. No. 09/246,316, entitled ONE-TIME-USECAMERA WITH CLOSING MECHANISM TO CLOSE CASSETTE DISABLED WHEN UNEXPOSEDFILM PREWOUND FROM CASSETTE DURING CAMERA MANUFACTURE discloses aone-time-use camera comprising a film cassette with a film spool that isrotated in an unwinding direction during camera manufacture to unwind afilmstrip from the cassette to form an unexposed film roll and in awinding direction during camera use to wind the filmstrip from theunexposed film roll into the cassette and with a light lock that is openwhen the filmstrip is unwound from the cassette or wound into thecassette and that is otherwise closed, a closing mechanism operable toclose the light lock which includes a film sensor, and a film winderrotatable in the winding and unwinding directions when coaxially engagedwith the film spool and engageable with the closing mechanism to operatethe closing mechanism to close the light lock, characterized in that theclosing mechanism has an engageable portion that can be engaged with thefilm winder to cause rotation of the film winder in the windingdirection to urge the film sensor against the filmstrip and anon-engageable portion that cannot be engaged with the film winder, andis supported for movement to position the non-engageable portion againstthe film winder to prevent the engageable portion from being engagedwith the film winder when the film winder is rotated in the unwindingdirection, whereby the engageable portion will be protected frombecoming worn when the film winder is coaxially engaged with the filmspool and rotated in the unwinding direction during camera manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A camera comprising a chamber for a film cassette having a film spoolinside the cassette that is windingly rotated to progressively wind anexposed filmstrip into the cassette and a light lock that is to beclosed after the exposed filmstrip is completely wound into thecassette, a rotatable film winder for windingly rotating the film spool,and a closing mechanism operated to close the light lock, ischaracterized in that:

the film winder has a single, distinct, dual-function part configured onthe film winder to engage the film spool in order to windingly rotatethe film spool and to engage the closing mechanism to operate theclosing mechanism.

Preferably, the closing mechanism is a single closing lever supported tobe pivoted to close the light lock, and the dual-function part is asingle protuberance that continuously engages the film spool in order towindingly rotate the film spool and only engages the closing lever afterthe exposed filmstrip is completely wound into the cassette in order tooperate the closing lever when the film winder is rotated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front exploded perspective view partially of a camera suchas a so-called one-time-use or disposable camera according to apreferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear exploded perspective view partially of the camera asshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1, showing the camerapartially assembled;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 2, showing the camerapartially assembled;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevation view partially of the camera;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a film winder and a closing lever in thecamera that operate to close the light lock of a film cassette after thefilm winder has completely wound an exposed filmstrip into the cassette;

FIG. 7 is a bottom side or end perspective view of the closing lever;

FIG. 8 is a top front perspective view of the film winder and theclosing lever; and

FIGS. 9 and 10 are top plan views of the film winder and the closinglever, depicting their operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is disclosed as being embodied preferably in a camera suchas a so-called one-time-use or disposable camera. Because the featuresof a camera are generally well known, the description which follows isdirected in particular only to those elements forming part of orcooperating directly with the disclosed embodiment. It is to beunderstood, however, that other elements may take various forms known toa person of ordinary skill in the art.

Film Cassette

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1, 2, 6 and 10 show a known filmcassette 10 similar in operation to ones disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.5,537,303 issued Oct. 18, 1984, and No. 5,231,438 issued Jul. 27, 1993.The film cassette 10 has a cassette shell 12 that contains a rotatablefilm spool 14 on which is stored a wound unexposed/exposed filmstrip 16.A pivotable light lock 18 inside the cassette shell 12 is pivoted openwithin a film egress/ingress passageway 20 in the shell to permit filmmovement out of and back into the shell, through the passageway, and ispivoted closed within the passageway to prevent ambient light fromentering the shell, through the passageway.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show the film cassette from front and rear sides,respectively, with the light lock 18 pivoted open. The filmstrip 16except for a trailing film end portion 22 has been wound into thecassette shell 12 after being exposed outside the cassette shell. FIG. 6shows the light lock 18 open immediately before the trailing film endportion 22 is wound into the cassette shell 12. FIG. 10 shows the lightlock 18 pivoted closed immediately after the trailing film end portion22 is into the cassette shell 12.

One-Time-Use Camera

FIGS. 1-9 partially show a so-called one-time-use or disposable camera24 with the film cassette 10. The camera 24 includes a main body part 26having a cassette receiving chamber 28 for the film cassette 10, a filmroll chamber 30 in which the filmstrip 16 is originally stored as anunexposed film roll (not shown), and a backframe opening 32 at whichsuccessive frames of the filmstrip are exposed. See FIG. 5. After eachexposure, the exposed frame is wound onto the film spool 14 inside thecassette shell 12. A rear cover part 34 light-tightly covers thecassette receiving chamber 28, the film roll chamber 30 and thebackframe opening 32.

A single-piece, manually rotatable film winder or thumbwheel 36 has acoaxially depending stem 38 that extends through a bearing hole 40 in atop portion 42 of the main body part 26 and into an accessible cavity 44in a spool core 46 of the film spool 14. The depending stem 38 has a keyprotuberance 48 that extends radially from and longitudinally along thedepending stem to rotationally engage the spool core 46 at a mating slot50 in the spool core, beginning at an exposed end 52 of the spool core.See FIGS. 1 and 2. The thumbwheel 36 is intended to be manually rotatedcounter-clockwise in FIGS. 1 and 2 to similarly rotate the film spool 14in order to wind the filmstrip 16 incrementally onto the film spoolfollowing each exposure at the backframe opening 32, and to then windthe trailing film end portion 22 onto the film spool following the lastexposure.

As shown in FIGS. 1-10, a single-piece closing lever 54 for pivoting thelight lock 18 closed after the trailing film end portion 22 has beenwound into the film cassette 10 has a pair of upstanding and dependingcoaxial pivot pins 56 and 58 that are pivotally supported in a bearingor pivot hole 60 in the top portion 42 of the main body part 26 and in adatum recess or pivot hole 62 in the cassette shell 12. The closinglever 54 has a pair of film sensing and light lock closing edge-surfaces64 and 66 that are parallel and offset from one another and facegenerally in the same direction. Both of the film sensing and light lockclosing edge-surfaces 64 and 66 are located outside the cassette shell12 in FIGS. 1-4, 6 and 9. The closing lever 54 is pivotable about anaxis 68 that is parallel to an axis 70 of the pivotable light lock 18.The light lock closing edge-surface 66 is spaced from the pivot pin 58substantially the same distance 72 in FIG. 6 that the pivot hole 62 forthe same pin is spaced from the light lock 18.

A collar 74 is arranged on the depending stem 38 of the thumbwheel 36 toextend radially coextensively with the key projection 48 from thedepending stem, and it has a continuous array of friction providingperipheral teeth 76. When the thumbwheel 36 is manually rotatedcounter-clockwise in FIG. 6, the teeth 76 are moved into and out ofsuccessive engagement with a single tooth 78 on a resilient curved armportion 80 of the closing lever 54, adjacent the exposed end 52 of thespool core 46, to slightly pivot the closing lever 54 counterclockwiseabout the axis 68 in order to urge the film sensing edge-surface 64 ofthe closing lever against the filmstrip 16 (including the trailing filmend portion 22). The resistance of the filmstrip 16 (including thetrailing film end portion 22) at the film sensing edge surface 64 of theclosing lever 54 prevents the closing lever from being further pivotedto position the light lock closing edge-surface 66 of the closing leveragainst the light lock 18 in FIG. 6. This is possible in part because ofthe ample resilience or elasticity of the resilient curved arm portion80 of the closing lever 54.

When the thumbwheel 36 is stationary, i.e. not rotated, the teeth 76 onthe collar 74 do not operate to urge the film sensing edge-surface 64 ofthe closing lever 54 against the filmstrip 16. Instead, the film sensingedge-surface 64 merely floats or rests on the filmstrip 16. This isbeneficial because the filmstrip 16 will not then be distorted at thebackframe opening 32 during exposure.

When the filmstrip 16 is completely wound into the cassette shell 12 asshown in FIG. 9, the filmstrip is removed from a space 82 adjacent thefilm sensing edge-surface 64 of the closing lever 54. Since there is nowno resistance of the filmstrip 16 at the film sensing edge-surface 64,when the thumbwheel 36 is manually rotated counter-clockwise in FIG. 9,to move the teeth 76 into and out of successive engagement with thesingle tooth 78, the closing lever 54 will be slightly pivotedcounter-clockwise about the axis 68 in FIG. 9 to urge the light lockclosing edge-surface 66 of the closing lever against the light lock 18as shown in FIG. 9. The film sensing edge-surface 64 is then positionedin the space 82.

The continued rotation of the thumbwheel 36 counter-clockwise in FIG. 10moves the key protuberance 48 on the depending stem 38 of the thumbwheelagainst an end projection 84 on the resilient curved arm portion 80 ofthe closing lever 54 to pivot the closing lever counter-clockwise aboutthe axis 68. This moves the light lock closing edge-surface 66 of theclosing lever 54 from immediately outside the film passageway 20 in FIG.9 to slightly inside the film passageway in FIG. 10 to pivot the lightlock 18 counter-clockwise about the axis 70, which closes the passagewayto prevent ambient light from entering the cassette shell 12. Theclosing lever 54 has a weakened living hinge portion 86 between the filmsensing edge-surface 64 and the light lock closing edge-surface 66 whichis constructed to allow the film sensing edge-surface to be foldedtowards the light lock closing edge-surface without becoming separated(broken off) from closing lever. Consequently, the film sensingedge-surface 64 is folded into a capture space 88 between the cassetteshell 12 and the rear cover part 34 as shown in FIG. 10. The filmsensing edge-surface 64 is then trapped incapacitated in the capturespace 88 without becoming separated from the closing lever 54 in orderto secure the light lock closing edge-surface 66 in place holding thelight lock 18 closed.

It will be appreciated that the key protuberance 48 on the dependingstem 38 of the thumbwheel 36 operates as a dual-function part. Onefunction is to rotate the film spool 14. The other function is to pivotthe closing lever 54 in order for the light lock closing edge-surface 66to pivot the light lock 18 closed. Since the collar 74 on the dependingstem 38 of the thumbwheel 36 extends radially coextensively with the keyprotuberance 48 from the depending stem, the collar prevents the keyprotuberance from engaging the end projection 84 on the resilient curvedarm portion 80 of the closing lever 54 before the filmstrip 16 iscompletely wound into the cassette shell 12. This can be seen bycomparing FIGS. 6 and 9.

Methods

The following methods are disclosed in connection with the one-time-usecamera 24:

A method of windingly rotating the film spool 14 inside the filmcassette 10 to progressively wind the exposed filmstrip 16 into the filmcassette and closing the light lock 18 of the film cassette after theexposed filmstrip is completely wound into the film cassette, comprisingthe steps of:

first windingly rotating the thumbwheel 36 with the key protuberance 48in engagement with the film spool to windingly rotate the film spool inorder to progressively wind the exposed filmstrip into the filmcassette; and;

then, after the exposed filmstrip is completely wound into the cassette,windingly rotating the film winder with the key protuberance inengagement with the closing lever 54, at the same time the keyprotuberance engages the film spool, to pivot the closing lever in orderto close the light lock.

A method of windingly rotating the film spool 14 inside the filmcassette 10 to progressively wind the exposed filmstrip 16 into the filmcassette and closing the light lock 18 of the film cassette after theexposed filmstrip is completely wound into the film cassette, comprisingthe steps of rotating the thumbwheel 36 to windingly rotate the filmspool, urging the film sensing edge-surface 66 of the closing lever 54against the exposed filmstrip before the exposed filmstrip is completelywound into the film cassette to sense the presence of the exposedfilmstrip, and moving the light lock closing edge-surface 66 of theclosing lever to close the light lock when the exposed filmstrip iscompletely wound into the film cassette, is characterized in that:

the film sensing edge-surface is urged against the exposed filmstriponly when the thumbwheel is rotated, whereby the film sensingedge-surface is not urged against the exposed filmstrip when thethumbwheel is stationary.

A method of closing the light lock 18 within the film passageway 20 inthe film cassette 10 after the exposed filmstrip 16 is completely movedinto the film cassette, comprising the step of:

pivoting the closing lever 54 to swing the light lock closingedge-surface 64 of the closing lever from outside the film passageway toinside the film passageway when the exposed filmstrip is movedcompletely into the film cassette, in order to close the light lock.

A method of assembling the one-time-use camera 24 comprising the stepsof:

loading the film cassette 10 into the camera; and

pivotally engaging the closing lever 54 with the film cassette, withoutthe closing lever engaging the light lock 18, in order to support theclosing lever on the film cassette for pivotal movement relative to thelight lock for the closing lever to be pivoted against the light lock toclose the light lock.

The invention has been described with reference to a preferredembodiment. However, it will be appreciated that variations andmodifications can be effected by a person of ordinary skill in the artwithout departing from the scope of the invention.

PARTS LIST

10. film cassette

12. cassette shell

14. film spool

16. filmstrip

18. light lock

20. film passageway

22. trailing film end portion

24. one-time-use camera

26. main body part

28. cassette receiving chamber

30. unexposed film roll chamber

32. backframe opening

34. rear cover part

36. film winder or thumbwheel

38. depending stem

40. bearing hole

42. top portion

44. cavity

46. spool core

48. key protuberance

50. mating slot

52. exposed end

54. closing lever

56. pivot pin

58. pivot pin

60. pivot hole

62. pivot hole

64. film sensing edge-surface

66. light lock closing edge-surface

68. axis

70. axis

72. distance

74. collar

76. teeth

78. tooth

80. resilient curved arm portion

82. space

84. end projection

86. weakened portion

88. capture space

What is claimed is:
 1. A camera comprising a chamber for a film cassettehaving a film spool inside the cassette that is windingly rotated toprogressively wind an exposed filmstrip into the cassette and a lightlock that is to be closed after the exposed filmstrip is completelywound into the cassette, a rotatable film winder for windingly rotatingthe film spool, and a closing mechanism operated to close the lightlock, is characterized in that:said film winder has a single, distinct,dual-function part configured on said film winder to engage the filmspool in order to windingly rotate the film spool and to engage saidclosing mechanism to operate said closing mechanism.
 2. A camera asrecited in claim 1, wherein said film winder has a coaxially dependingstem, and said dual-function part is a single protuberance that projectsfrom said depending stem to continuously engage the film spool in orderto windingly rotate the film spool when said film winder is rotated andto only engage said closing mechanism after the exposed filmstrip iscompletely wound into the cassette in order to operate said closingmechanism when said film winder is rotated.
 3. A camera as recited inclaim 2, wherein said protuberance extends radially from said dependingstem and longitudinally along said depending stem.
 4. A camera asrecited in claim 2, wherein said depending stem has a collar arrangedaround said depending stem to prevent said protuberance from engagingsaid closing mechanism before the exposed filmstrip is completely woundinto the cassette and to permit said protuberance to engage said closingmechanism after the exposed filmstrip is completely wound into thecassette.
 5. A camera as recited in claim 4, wherein said protuberanceand said collar extend radially coextensively from said depending stem.6. A camera as recited in claim 2, wherein said closing mechanism is asingle closing lever supported to be pivoted against the light lockafter the exposed filmstrip is completely wound into the cassette inorder to be pivoted to close the light lock and supported to be incontact with the exposed filmstrip to be prevented from being pivotedagainst the light lock before the exposed filmstrip is completely woundinto the cassette and, and said protuberance engages said single closinglever when said closing lever is pivoted against the light lock in orderto pivot said closing lever to close the light lock.
 7. A camera asrecited in claim 1, wherein said closing mechanism is a single closinglever supported to be pivoted to close the light lock, and saiddual-function part is a single protuberance that continuously engagesthe film spool in order to windingly rotate the film spool and onlyengages said closing lever after the exposed filmstrip is completelywound into the cassette in order to operate said closing lever when saidfilm winder is rotated.
 8. A camera as recited in claim 7, wherein saidprotuberance engages the film spool at least proximate an exposed end ofthe film spool, and said closing lever has a particular portion that islocated adjacent the exposed end of the film spool to permit saidprotuberance to engage said closing lever.
 9. A method of windinglyrotating a film spool inside a film cassette to progressively wind anexposed filmstrip into the cassette and closing a light lock of thecassette after the exposed filmstrip is completely wound into thecassette, comprising the steps of:first windingly rotating a rotatablefilm winder with a single, distinct protuberance in engagement with thefilm spool to windingly rotate the film spool in order to progressivelywind the exposed filmstrip into the cassette; and; then, after theexposed filmstrip is completely wound into the cassette, windinglyrotating the film winder with the protuberance in engagement with aclosing lever, at the same time the protuberance engages the film spool,to pivot the closing lever in order to close the light lock.
 10. Aone-time-use camera comprising a film cassette having a film spoolinside said cassette that is windingly rotated to progressively wind afilmstrip into said cassette following each exposure and a light lockthat is to be closed after said filmstrip is completely wound into saidcassette, a rotatable film winder for windingly rotating said filmspool, and a closing mechanism operated to close said light lock, ischaracterized in that:said film winder has a single, distinct,dual-function part configured on said film winder to engage said filmspool in order to windingly rotate said film spool and to engage saidclosing mechanism to operate said closing mechanism.